Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What will it cost?
All charges are calculated on a per day basis. Known as a “Man-Day Rate” The daily rate varies depending on the scope of work and other relevant factors.
Projects such as implementation are planned over the number of working days estimated to be required in order to complete the project.
After implementation, GB ISO Consulting offers optional maintenance contracts at an agreed monthly rate that usually include 4-6 days per month where consultants make regular visits to plan, coordinate and perform the activities regularly required in order to continuously maintain the effectiveness of the Quality Management System such as updates to documentation, internal audits, management reviews and resolution of non-conformances.
Will additional staff need to be employed?
Clause 5.5.2 of the ISO 9001 standard states the following:
Top Management shall appoint a member of management who, irrespective of other responsibilities, shall have responsibility and authority that includes:
ensuring that processes needed for the QMS are established, implemented and maintained
reporting to top management on the performance of the QMS and the need for improvement
ensuring the promotion of awareness of the customer requirements throughout the organisation
Normally, there is no need to employ additional staff due to the implementation of ISO 9001 but there are several functions that do need to be performed on a regular basis in order to maintain the QMS and, in large organisations, these functions can become a full time job.
Some of the key functions required by the QMS are planning and performing internal audits, updating QMS documentation when required, co-ordinating management review meetings and over-seeing the resolution of non-conformances within the Quality Management System.
As an additional service, GB ISO Consulting can provide maintenance contracts after implementation where a monthly rate is established which includes regular visits from a consultant who maintains the QMS and handles the above-mentioned functions ensuring that they are carried out in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001.
Will an ISO 9001 Quality Management System generate more paperwork?
One of the requirements of ISO 9001 is document and record control and the need to maintain records for monitoring, measuring and data analysis.
However, when we implement ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems we aim to keep all processes as simple and user-friendly as possible. Paperwork is only generated where the need is identified for data analysis or to prevent errors due to lack of information. Every effort is made to ensure that paperwork generated throughout the QMS is simplified and does not become excessively time-consuming or slow production unnecessarily.
Can I do it myself?
Any person may implement an ISO 9001 Quality Management System in their organisation but unless that person has a very good knowledge and understanding of ISO 9001, it can be a difficult and time-consuming process.
In the same way that we make use of accountants to manage our book-keeping, the use of consultants to implement, audit and maintain your QMS is certainly advantageous. The combined knowledge and experience of the GB ISO Consulting consultants ensures that implementation and maintenance of your Quality Management System is carried out efficiently, within a suitable time frame and, more importantly, that the QMS is value-adding and conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001.
How long will implementation take?
For an average sized company, implementation projects are usually spread out over 6-8 months. The time needed also depends of the degree of quality and process controls and the documentation that is already in place in the company before the start of the implementation.
An ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) involves all departments which have a direct impact on the quality or service provided by the company. Therefore, it is vital that the members of these departments are actively involved in the implementation as their input is required to ensure that the QMS is effective and value-adding throughout the organisation. This input and involvement will greatly affect the progress and duration of the implementation process.